Chemical ionization and electron impact mass spectra of alicyclic substituted 2-aryl-1,3-dithianes

The methane and isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra of alicyclic substituted 2-aryl-1,3-dithianes were examined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. The protonated molecular ion was found to be of low abundance in the methane spectra, while a protonated cyclic sulfide cation (m/z 107) appeared as the base peak. A protonated molecular ion was the base peak when isobutane was used as the reagent gas. Electron impact mass spectra displayed weak molecular ions and were characterized by the m/z 106 fragment.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of some aromatic and aliphatic oximes

Aromatic and aliphatic oximes are protonated under methane or isobutane chemical ionization conditions. The structural identity of the [MH? H₂O]⁺˙ ions with nitrilium cations is established by the mass analysed ion kinetic energy method after collisional activation. The results also show the stereospecific nature of the transposition in the gas phase.     

Accurate mass measurements of positive ions in the desorption chemical ionization mode

Desorption chemical ionization mass spectrometry employing ammonia as the reagent gas has been extensively used to obtain molecular mass and structural information on a wide variety of compounds. Mass-deficient reference standards normally used for calibration purposes in mass spectrometry do not provide adequate mass spectra under ammonia chemical ionization conditions. In order to overcome this problem a mixture of ammonia and methane as reagent gases was employed. In high-resolution accurate mass measurement experiments, this gas mixture allows the simultaneous detection of mass spectra of perfluorokerosene adequate for calibration purposes and spectra containing molecular mass information of the analyte. A needle valve system was used to control the composition of the gas mixture introduced into the ion source. For positive-ion accurate mass measurements of higher masses (up to m/z = 2300), Fomblin 18/8 oil was successfully used as a reference standard under ammonia, methane and isobutane desorption chemical ionization conditions.     

Mass spectrometric behaviour of simple oxazolidines under electron impact and chemical ionization

The 70 eV electron impact mass spectra of 33 differently substituted oxazolidines were studied to determine the effect of substituents and the existence of the ring—chain tautomeric equilibrium on the decomposition of the molecular ions. Most of the fragmentations can be rationalized to start as the cleavage initiated by the radical site at nitrogen. Isomeric compounds showed different spectra and were easily differentiated. The position of the ring—chain equilibrium could be located only roughly. The chemical ionization mass spectra of the compounds were also recorded, with ammonia, isobutane, acetone or methane as reagent gas. Methane was the only reagent gas that promoted extensive fragmentation of the protonated molecules. However, no information about the position of ring-chain tautomerism was obtained under these conditions. Analogously to other related five-membered heterocycles, the oxazolidines reacted under acetone chemical ionization conditions to afford [M + CH₃CO]⁺ adduct ions. These adducts were stable, however, and unlike those of 1,3-dioxolanes and 1,3-oxathiolanes, they did not decompose and form stable oxonium ions.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry using ammonia reagent gas. Selective protonation of conjugated ketones

Studies using ammonia as a selective reagent gas in chemical ionization mass spectrometry were extended to conjugated ketones. Their proton affinities were in the range of most nitrogen-containing compounds (> 207 ± 3 kcal/mole), thereby permitting proton transfer from [NH₄]⁺-, leading to well stabilized protonated molecular ions as the most abundant ion products.     

The formation of metal—carbon bonds via insertion reactions in gaseous negative ion/molecule reactions

The negative ion mass spectra under chemical ionization conditions for a series of copper(II), nickel(II), and cobalt(II) Schiff base complexes have been measured. Reagent gases employed include methane, isobutane, and methane-d₄. For all complexes, molecular negative ions were produced with all three reagent gases via secondary electron capture processes. Ion/molecule reactions between the molecular negative ion and the neutral reactant gas appear to be the dominant processes for the formation of secondary ions. The secondary reactions lead to the incorporation of the CH₂ moiety into the nickel(II) complexes and the CH₃ group into the cobalt(II) compounds.     

In situ chemical ionization in ion trap mass spectrometry--the beneficial influence of isobutane as a reagent gas

We report a comparison of the ionization yields provided by the most common reagents (methane, ammonia, methanol, acetonitrile, isobutane) performing in situ chemical ionization with an ion trap mass spectrometer. Four molecules were chosen in the medical field to illustrate experimental results: alprazolam, diazepam, flunitrazepam and acetaminophen. Under usual operational conditions, relative abundances of protonated ions appreciably depend on the reagents. The greatest abundance of MH(+) ions was obtained with isobutane while observed intensities for MH(+) ions varied from 73% for methanol and ammonia to about 23% for acetonitrile and methane. Results were temptatively rationalized comparing energies of formation of the reagent ions and storage efficiency in the trapping field.     

Characterization of gem-difluoropropargyl synthons through HF loss from protonated molecules in methane chemical ionization mass spectra

Electron impact and methane chemical ionization mass spectra were obtained following gas chromatography/mass spectrometry for several gem-difluoropropargyl compounds, which had been synthesized as potential intermediates for synthesis of gem-difluoromethylene-containing C-3 acetylenes. EI spectra were variable with respect to the presentation of molecular ions, depending on substituent functional groups present. Methane-CI spectra were characterized by loss of 19 mass units from molecular weight with all compounds examined. These [M − 19]⁺ ions often presented as base peaks of the CI spectra, and were more reliably present and abundant than [M + 1]⁺ ions for these compounds. These ions could have been formed by elimination of HF from the protonated molecules under conditions of methane chemical ionization.     

红霉素类抗生素的自身化学电离质谱研究

采用自身化学电离离子化(SCI)/四极质谱法,测定了5个红霉素类抗生素,不仅得到了丰度较高的准分子离子(MH)^+,而且也得到了丰富的碎片离子,并对其裂解规律进行了总结。结果表明对于在电离过程中不稳定的化合物,SCI/四极质谱法既可确定其分子量,也可提供丰富的分子结构信息。此方法简便、快速,且图谱简单有助于结构分析。     

Does the reagent gas influence collisional activation when performing in situ chemical ionization with an ion trap mass spectrometer?

Users of ion trap mass spectrometers frequently develop methods that associate chemical ionization with tandem mass spectrometry detection. With apparatus using internal ionization, the chemical reagent is present in the trap during the collision induced dissociation (CID) step and one may wonder if the reagent influences the fragmentation ratios in MS/MS. We report a comparison of the fragmentation ratios of protonated molecules when using the most common reagents (methane, ammonia, methanol, acetonitrile, isobutane) for performing in situ chemical ionization. Four molecules were chosen in the medical field to serve as models: alprazolam, diazepam, flunitrazepam and acetaminophen. In the non-resonant CID mode, the influence of the reagent mass is clearly seen in spite of its low partial pressure in the ion trap; the reagent acts as a "heavy target": the degree of fragmentation increases with the molecular weight of the reagent. In the resonant CID mode, there is no evident correlation between the fragmentation ratio of MH(+) ions and the nature of the CI reagent; a slight shift of the secular frequency of the precursor ion, which tends to reduce the CID efficiency, could compensate for the "heavy target" effect underscored in the non-resonant mode.     

The effects of electron and chemical Ionization Modes on the MS Profiling of Whole Bacteria

Free fatty acid profiling of whole bacteria [Francisella tularensis, Brucella melitensis, Yersinia pestis, Bacillus anthracis (vegetative and sporulated), and Bacillus cereus] was carried out with direct probe mass spectrometry under 70-eV electron ionization (EI) and isobutane chemical ionization in both the positive (CI+) and negative modes (CI-). Electron ionization produced spectra that contained molecular ions and fragment ions from various free fatty acids. Spectra acquired with isobutane chemical ionization in the positive mode yielded molecular ions of free fatty acids as well as ions from other bacterial compounds not observed under EI conditions. Spectra obtained with negative chemical ionization did not contain as much taxonomic information as EI or CI+; however, some taxonomically significant compounds such as dipicolinic acid and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) did produce negative ions. All ionization modes yielded spectra that could separate the bacteria by Gram-type when observed with principle components analysis (PCA). Chemical ionization in the positive ion mode produced the greatest amount of differentiation between the four genera of bacteria when the spectra where examined by PCA.     

Low pressure chemical ionization in ion trap mass spectrometry

This article presents the specificities of low pressure chemical ionization in ion trap mass spectrometry. One main feature is the ability to perform chemical ionization with liquid reagents as readily as with "conventional" gases (methane, isobutane and ammonia). The reactivities and analytical applications of gas and liquid reagents are summarized from literature data and are compared when possible.     

Chemical ionization mass spectra of acetals of beta-D-glycopyranosylnitromethanes

O-Isopropylidene and O-benzylidene acetals of common 2, 6-anhydro-1-deoxy-1-nitroalditols (beta-D-glycopyranosylnitromethanes) derived from D-glucose, D-galactose and D-mannose were studied by chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS) using methane, isobutane, ammonia or pyridine as reaction gas. Production of [M+H](+) adduct ions dominates in the case of methane or isobutane possessing proton affinity values PA = 552 or 683 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The collision-induced dissociation time-of-flight product ion spectra of [M+H](+) ions differ characteristically according the stereochemical arrangement of the pyranoid ring. These differences can be helpful when assigning stereochemical arrangements for the pyranoid ring. The dominant process in ammonia (PA = 853 kJ mol(-1)) CIMS for most of the compounds studied is the production of the cluster ions [M+NH(4)](+). The cluster [M+pyridineH](+) ions are observable only for substances possessing the O-benzylidene group (PA of pyridine = 924 kJ mol(-1)). Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of dimethyl acetals and diethyl dithioacetals of aldopentoses and aldohexoses,and the influence of stereochemical configuration

Chemical ionization mass spectra have been recorded for the title compounds having the four pentose configurations and the eight hexose configurations, with ammonia and isobutane as the reagent gases. The ammonia mediated spectra display [NH₄]⁺ capture ions with successive loss of one or two molecules of methanol (acetals) or ethanethiol (dithioacetals), whereas when isobutane was the reagent gas, loss from the protonated acetals of one or two molecules of methanol and of water, and loss from the protonated dithioacetals of one or two molecules of ethanethiol and of water were featured. Significant differences in the ion intensities as a function of stereochemistry in the precursor are noted, and are discussed in terms of the ease of formation of cyclic fragment ions.     

Ammonia chemical ionization mass spectra of esters and amides of oxyacids of phosphorus

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry using ammonia as the reagent gas has been carried out with esters and amides of a variety of oxyacids of phosphorus (phosphates, phosphonates, phosphites and phosphoramidates). In all cases, the protonated molecular ion is a major species in the spectrum and the percentage of the total ion current carried by these protonated molecular ions is always considerably greater than that carried by the molecular ions in the corresponding electron impact mass spectra. In the chemical ionization mass spectra only limited fragmentation of the protonated molecular ion occurs from which useful information on the structure of phosphorus derivatives may be inferred.     

Relative molecular mass information from aliphatic nitro compounds: A chemical ionization study

The mass spectra of a number of aliphatic nitro compounds have been studied using electron Ionization (EI) and a variety of chemical Ionization (CI) techniques in attempts to obtain relative molecular mass information. The use of positive ion ammonia chemical Ionization techniques gave very satisfactory results, providing abundant [M + NH4]⁺ ions, not only from both primary and secondary nitro compounds, but also from the much more labile tertiary nitro compounds. However, the use of methane and isobutane positive ion CI or EI conditions resulted in facile fragmentation with little relative molecular mass information being made available. Negative ion CI using methane, isobutane or ammonia as moderating gases all gave abundant [M ? 1]^? ions with primary and secondary nitro compounds but at much reduced sensitivity.     

Differentiation of diastereomeric conduramine derivatives under electron ionization and chemical ionization mass spectral conditions

Diastereomeric conduramine derivatives, i.e., (1R,2S,3R/S,6S)-6-(N-carbomethoxyamino) 1,2-O-isopropylidenecyclohex-4-ene-1,2,3-triol (1 and 2) and their O-acetyl derivatives (3 and 4), were studied using gas chromatography (GC) with electron ionization (EI) and chemical ionization (CI). The EI mass spectra of diastereomeric pairs show consistent differences in the relative abundances of characteristic ions. The EI fragmentation patterns are based on precursor/product ion spectra, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and deuterium labelling. The CI spectra show differences from the EI spectra, and the isobutane/CI spectra are much simpler than the methane/CI spectra. The differences shown in the CI spectra are similar to those shown in the product ion spectra of [M+H](+) ions generated under electrospray ionization (ESI) conditions. Theoretical calculations are performed to understand the observed differences. The differences in the relative stabilities of molecular ions, or protonated molecules at different sites, can explain the observed differences in the spectra.     

Fragmentation in chemical ionization mass spectrometry and the proton affinity of the departing neutral

Chemical ionization mass spectra of six 5,6-dihydro-2-methyl-1,4-oxathiins, and some of the sulfoxides and sulfones derived therefrom, have been determined employing hydrogen, methane and isobutane as reagent gases. The major fragmentation reaction of the protonated molecule, [R′COX·H]⁺, involves loss of the neutral HX molecule. For the sulfides and sulfones, with X ranging from OH to N(CH₃)C₆H₅, it is observed that the importance of this fragmentation is inversely correlated with the proton affinity of the departing HX molecule in both the H₂ and CH₄ chemical ionization. For the sulfoxides no consistent correlation is observed and this is attributed to the interference of competing and/or consecutive fragmentation reactions. In the isobutane chemical ionization mass spectra only the protonated molecule is observed for most of the compounds studied.     

An evaluation of atmospheric pressure ionization techniques for the analysis of N-Methyl carbamate pesticides by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

Atmospheric pressure ionization (API) techniques are evaluated for the mass spectral analysis of N-methyl carbamate pesticides. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) using a heated nebulizer interface provided both protonated molecules and abundant, characteristic fragment ions. With ion spray (ISP; pneumatically assisted electrospray ionization), which utilizes a milder “ion evaporation” process, primarily protonated molecules were obtained, although fragment ions similar to those observed in APCI could be induced by variation of the API orifice voltage. Product ion spectra of ISP-derived protonated molecules, generated by tandem mass spectrometry using collision-induced dissociation, are also presented. The APCI and ISP spectra of the carbamates are compared to those obtained with a thermospray interface and also to their electron ionization and methane CI spectra obtained with a particle beam interface. For all four interfaces, combined liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods using conventional (4.6 mm i.d.) columns are described for the separation and detection of pesticide mixtures. These methods are applied to the confirmatory analysis of three representative carbamate pesticides, spiked at the 0.1-ppm level in green peppers. For those carbamates amenable to gas chromatography mass spectrometry, comparative results are presented.     

Chemical ionization mass spectra of simple 1,3-dioxolanes and their sulphur analogues recorded with methane,isobutane, ammonia and acetone as reagent gas

The mass spectral behaviour of nine 1,3-dioxolanes, seven 1,3-dithiolanes and seven 1,3-oxathiolanes was studied under chemical ionization conditions with ammonia, isobutane, methane, acetone, acetone-d₆ or pentan-3-one as reagent gas. The proton affinity of the first members in each series was not large enough for ammonia to protonate them; instead, the ionization took place through unstable [M + NH₄]⁺ ions. Isobutane, which gave rise to abundant [M + H]⁺ ions in all cases, was the best reagent gas for the determination of the molecular mass. Methane chemical ionization caused extensive fragmentations either through ring cleavage or through the elimination of the largest substituent from ring positions 2 as a neutral hydrocarbon. The ketones used as reagent gas reacted to form adduct ions. In the case of dioxolanes and oxathiolanes, the [M + RCO]⁺ adduct ion decomposed through ring opening and then, as a consequence of intramolecular nucleophilic substitution, through the elimination of a neutral carbonyl compound. Resonance-stabilized dioxolanylium and oxathiolanylium ions were obtained for dioxolanes and oxathiolanes, respectively. This reaction was almost non-existent for the dithiolanes.